Feed-cutter.



PATBNTED JAN. 13, 1903.

W. G. ST. JOHN.

FEED GUTTER. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28, 1901.

2 SHBETSSHEET L N0 MODEL.

MOTD-LITMQ, WASHINGTON, D, C,

' MGM-$86.5, F

"No. 718,289. PATENTED JAN. 13, 1903. W. e. s1 JOHN.

' FEED CUTTER.

. I APPLIOATION FILED 001:.2s,1901.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 1

WILLIAM GLOVER ST. JOHN, OF SUNDERLAND, CANADA.

FEED-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,289, dated January 13, 1903. Application filed October 28, 1901. Serial No. 80,300. (No modelJ To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GLOVER ST. JOHN, farmer, of the village of Sunderland, in the county of Ontario, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in feed-cutters; and the object of the invention is to devise an improvement in the face-plate of a feed-cutter whereby the cutting edge may be kept sharp at buta minimum expense; and it consists, essentially, of making the faceplate in two portions, the outer or knife portion being adjustably secured to the center portion at the bottom edge of the opening through which the feed passes and against which edge the knife acts, the parts being otherwise arranged and constructed in detail as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure 1 is a view of a feed-cutter to which my invention relates. Fig. 2 is a detail of the knife portion of the face-plate. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section through the faceplate and the knife portion forming part thereof, showing the means of connecting the knife portion to the main portion of the faceplate. Fig. 4 is a detail of one of the bolts for securing the knife portion of the plate in position. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

A is the knife-wheel, which is suitably secured on the main shaft B, suitably journaled in the frame 0.

D is the opening in the casing through which the feed passes outwardly.

E is the face-plate, which occupies a position at the bottom portion of the opening, be-

ing secured on one of the longitudinal bars 0.

of the frame.

E is the ledger-blade or knife portion of the face-plate, which is preferably madewith an upward slant 6 from the inside of the faceplate E to the outside edges and an outward slant 8 from the bottom of the knife portion to the upper cutting edge. 6 represents longitudinal slots provided with bevel edges, through which extend bolts F, with headsf correspondingly shaped to the sides of the slots, so that the heads will not pull through.

e represents vertical mortises formed in the face-plate. The bolts F extend through the knife portion E of the face-plate and through the face-plate E into the mortises e The bolts F are, provided with suitable nuts f, so as to secure the knife portion securely in position. I preferably make a slot at each end and in the center of the knife portion e of the face-plate, as indicated, and provide corresponding bolts to the bolt F, hereinbefore mentioned.

Heretofore the great difficulty arose from the construction of the faceplate so that when 'the edge became dull the machine had practically to be taken apart in order to sharpen it. By my invention, however, it is simply necessary to remove the bolts F, when the knife portion may be sharpened as required. It will of course be understood that such knife portion will be made of steel similar to what saw-blades are made of and necessarily will take an edge finer than what an ordinary face-plate will and also necessarily will outlast an ordinary face-plate and may be sharpened at but a minimum expense.

G is a guide-plate for supporting the knife in such a manner as to retain it in rotating in an even plane during its descent, thereby overcoming any danger of the knife striking the edge of the faceplate and becoming blunted.

In machines already constructed the faceplate may be filed away suffieiently, so that the knife portion may be readily applied to it. It will also be seen that the knife portion of the face-plate may be vertically adjusted to a nicety.

It will be seen that by forming my faceplate with a knife-edge the rotating knife shears off the corn in short and equal lengths, while in machines hitherto used the face plate being flat permits the lower portion of the body of the corn to be cut to continue feeding past the rotating knife during the time the upper portion is being out.

What I claim as my invention is-.-

1. In a feed-cutter, a casing, a cuttingwheel pivoted thereto, said casing having an opening extending therethrough, a face-plate located at the bottom of said opening and a cutting-blade secured to the said face-plate, substantially as described.

2. In a feed-cutter, a 03.51118, a uttingopening therein and a vertically-adjustable cutting-blade located at the bottom of the said opening, substantially as. described.

wheel pivoted thereto, said casing having an opening therein and a cutting-blade located at the bottom of said opening in close proximity to the path of the cutting-wheel, snb- WVILLIAM GLOVER ST. JOHN. 5 stantially as described. Witnesses:

RACHEL GLENDINNING.

8. In a feed-cutter, a casing, a cutting- WILLIAM T. MOORE, wheel, pivoted thereto, said casing having an 

